WEBVTT MEANS FOR PATIENTS. PHYSICIAN GENERAL RACHEL LEVINE SAYS THE DRY LEAF OR FLOWER WILL BE SOLD IN PA DISPENSARIES, BUT IT HAS TO BE VAPORIZED NOT SMOKED. OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS SHE IS APPROVING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, EXPANDING THE LIST OF SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION THAT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE FROM 17 TO 21 CONDITION PATIENTS WILL ONLY HAVE TO PAY FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD ONCE A YEAR. CURRENTLY MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS DISPERSED IN A PILL OR LIQUID THE PHYSICAL GENERAL SAYS THE DRY LEAF FORM WILL REQUIRE LES PREPARATION. >> IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO OFFER ALTERNATIVE TO PATIENTS, IT WILL IMPROVE COST AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS FOR PATIENTS> 8 SEC >> THE PHYSICIAN GENERAL SAYS DRY LEAF WILL BE SOLD LATER THIS SUMM

Patients registered in Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program will soon be able to consume it in dry leaf form, and more medical conditions will qualify for treatment by the drug.

Gov. Tom Wolf's health secretary announced Monday she was going along with the recommendations of an advisory panel to make those changes.

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Dr. Rachel Levine expects producers to have dry leaf available sometime this summer in a form that can be vaporized, not smoked. State law prevents dispensaries from selling marijuana that's designed to be smoked.

The list of medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana use will expand from 17 to 21.

Levine is also adopting a recommendation that children who need the drug be certified by a pediatrician, as well as a recommendation that patients only pay for a medical marijuana card once a year.

According to the Department of Health, more than 30,000 patients have registered to participate in the medical marijuana program. More than 10,000 have received their identification cards and received medical marijuana at a dispensary.